Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland now let you track spending via Google Maps

Customers can now use online banking on a desktop computer to view the exact geographical location of debit card transactions, and soon they'll be able to do the same via their bank's Android or iOS app.

Lloyds Banking Group, which runs all three banks, is following in the footsteps of app-based banking platforms Starling and Monzo, which already let customers see the locations where they've spent on their card. The idea is to help customers better manage their money and protect themselves against fraud by spotting transactions in unexpected locations. 

See our guide for more on online banking services. 

What does the Google Maps feature do? 

The new feature will let Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland customers see the exact location and details of in-person debit card transactions over the previous 12 months. Here's an example of how it'll look:

The feature will only work for transactions made in person using a debit card – location services won't be available for spending online.

The functionality is already available for online banking customers on desktop, and is being rolled out shortly to the Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland apps for Android. The banks say it will be available on their iOS apps in early 2019.

The banks have also added functionality to let customers see upcoming scheduled payments on their accounts – including direct debits and standing orders – and 'freeze' cards if they've been temporarily lost.